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Reaching Out To Ethnic Communities, Protecting Against Hate Crime, and Implementing an Inclusive Approach
 Today's FBI: In light of 9/11, the FBI's role has expanded markedly. The Bureau not only focuses on its traditional mission of investigating violations of federal criminal law, but continues to assume a greater leadership role in protecting the United States from foreign counterintelligence and terrorist activities. Even beyond crime investigation and its post 9/11 responsibilities, the FBI continues to intensify its initiatives to reach out to, and protect from hate crimes, those ethnic populations that comprise the melting pot that is America.
In fact, the FBI itself is an ever-evolving organization, reflecting the best diversity that the nation has to offer. For his thoughts about the FBI's expanded role and its positive impact on the ethnic communities it protects, we turn to Sunjeet, a member of America's Sikh community, and an Intelligence Analyst with today's FBI.
| "Working at the FBI is quite a unique experience," says Sunjeet, "especially in the Counterterrorism Division after 9/11. What I do not only involves analyzing intelligence, although there is a lot of that, it also involves coordination, development, and diplomacy. It's not one dimensional, but rather multi-faceted. It can be quite satisfying to put together the pieces of a puzzle to find the true story; the story that not everyone is able to know." |
Regarding the FBI's work to reach and protect diverse groups from hate crimes, Sunjeet says:
| "I think that those outside the FBI would find it interesting that the Bureau has, what I call, two sides. We are just as adamant about pursuing criminals and terrorists and those who want to cause harm from the outside, as we are insistent upon protecting the civil rights of those individuals within the U.S., regardless of their religion, race, ethnicity, or political beliefs." |
One of Sunjeet's recent experiences in this regard occurred during his first year at the Bureau:
| "The Director sent out an all-FBI staff email reviewing the Bureau's accomplishments of the past year. He took just as much pride in all the work we did to combat terrorism and fight crime as he did in our efforts to prosecute a man in Arizona who committed a hate crime when he killed a Sikh a few days after 9/11. I took a lot of pride in the Director's sincerity in protecting all Americans." |
The FBI's inclusive approach not only involves its criminal, counterterrorism and outreach initiatives, it also reflects the Bureau's approach toward recruiting and hiring. The FBI actively encourages minorities to consider it as a prime employer of choice. It was in this spirit that Sunjeet was invited to participate in a television commercial.
The TV spot was designed to attract job applicants from across the country, including minority applicants. With its first regional airing during the 2005 Super Bowl, the ad garnered much response from interested job candidates. Says Sunjeet:
| "I received a lot of positive feedback from everyone, including fellow Sikhs. Growing up in the U.S., there was some discussion in the Sikh community that it may be difficult to land a high-profile job wearing a turban. So the community was quite happy to not only see a Sikh as an FBI employee, but also as a spokesperson inviting other minorities to join the FBI." |
To those who are considering a career with the FBI, Sunjeet says there are compelling reasons to join the Bureau.
| "You have the opportunity to be an active participant in protecting your country and in serving your community. The FBI is always changing, always adapting. You are not just an observer, but part of that change, and part of the progress that makes the FBI such an impressive organization." |
Regarding the FBI's outreach to, and protection of, minority and ethnic communities, Sunjeet relays these thoughts:
"The FBI really makes an effort to be aware of and to understand what different minority communities are going through. They really make an effort to establish relationships and to connect with them. Sometimes it's very subtle."
"I have gone to receptions, gatherings and meetings, and talked about the FBI's mission and goals... to paint a true picture of the FBI as not only a criminal investigative and counterterrorism body, but also as an organization that protects and serves all citizens and communities." |
About Sunjeet
Sunjeet holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the College of William & Mary, and a J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. Previous to his FBI career, Sunjeet served as a government management consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers. He joined the Bureau through the Presidential Management Fellows Program, an initiative that invites graduate students to work with government agencies, including the FBI, by rotating to different locations and divisions to gain an insight into a federal career.
Sunjeet is now a full-time FBI Intelligence Analyst, working within the Bureau's Counterterrorism Division. On any given day he may coordinate with various FBI Field Offices and Special Agents and Intelligence Analysts across the country, with other federal agencies including Intelligence Community members, with FBI Headquarters' departments, with state and local law enforcement, and beyond.
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